Camerons mourn death of young son

Conservative leader David Cameron and his wife Samantha are mourning the death of their disabled six-year-old son Ivan, comforted by messages of condolence led by the Queen.

Ivan, who suffered from Ohtahara Syndrome, a rare epilepsy condition accompanied by severe cerebral palsy, was taken ill overnight and died shortly after arriving at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London.

His parents were with him when he died.

He was the couple’s eldest child and had required round-the-clock care all his life.

A Conservative Party spokesman confirmed the news, saying: “It is with great sadness that David and Samantha Cameron must confirm the death of their six-year-old son Ivan.

“Ivan, who suffered from cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, was taken ill overnight and died at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, early this morning.

“David and Samantha would ask that their privacy is respected at this terribly difficult time.”

Mr and Mrs Cameron have two other children, Nancy, five, and Arthur, three.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, whose own daughter Jennifer Jane was born prematurely and died just 10 days later in 2002, wrote privately to the Camerons to express their sadness.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen had sent a private message of sympathy.